Rockne's Roundtable

ND wearing the funky tournament uniforms by adidas. Lime/neon green lettering in white unis with neon green shoes and camouflage-like shorts.

First media timeout at 15:26 has ND leading 6-4, with Loyd, Diggins and Achonwa scoring baskets for the Irish. Little ragged on both sides, not unusual with tournament action now beginning. ND has four turnovers, while USF missed its first 8 shots.

Andrea Smith drills her seventh point on a trey and suddenly USF is up 19-13. Kayla McBride picks up her second foul and is taken out of the game at 9:08, and likely will sit the rest of the half.

Skylar then drills a three to make it 19-16. She has 11 of ND's 16 points. The Irish had missed 10 of their previous 11 shots.

Baskets by Achonwa and Diggins put ND back up 22-21 with just over six minutes left until the half.

First half ends with Notre Dame leading 37-31. USF hit two late threes and has five overall to keep itself within striking distance. Diggins has 13 points.

Yet another three by USF, its seventh, knots the game at 41-41. First media timeout at 15:42 has the score still tied. The Smith twins have 28 of the 41 points for the Bulls.

Kayla McBride picks up her 4th foul with 12:27 left. She's played only 15 minutes and is 1-of-8 from the floor.

The 2nd media timeout at 11:52 left has USF ahead 48-46, with Achonwa to go to the line for ND after the break. USF didn't have a turnover for the first 8 minutes of the second half, and Notre Dame's A-game isn't there today.

Ariel Braker's 15-footer puts ND back up 53-51 leading to a 30-second USF timeout at 9:39.

Back-to-back baskets by McBride give ND some breathing room with a 65-57 cushion, and the Irish will be going to the line after the final media timeout at 3:59.

ND survives and advances with 75-66 victory for a school record 24th consecutive victory. Look for a recap later tonight on the home page.